Vismaya

The development desires of the people in and around Penguia Chiefdom in Kailahun District, Sierra Leone, the area of our primary interest, are like those of many people throughout Africa and the emerging world – long-term job creation and skill-set development, access to quality education for local boys and girls, improved health care facilities, and clean drinking water. The leading concern of the local citizenry, however, is the poor condition of their road network. Not having critical easy access to markets and services outside of their immediate vicinity stifles self-reliance. They grow ample rice, cassava, cocoa, etc. but cannot convert this natural abundance into abundant hard currency. Parasitic middlemen-brokers profit from their disadvantage by preying upon local small-scale artisanal miners. All discussions within the chiefdom about the way toward future prosperity lead back to “’Dis road!”.

To date, Taia Peace has funded the rudimentary rehabilitation of a few feeder roads and small bridges in Penguia, provided educational materials for schools, and supplied uniforms for youth soccer clubs (the latter in recognition that creating positive outlets for ex-combatants is imperative). Now our aim is to have a broader – even generational – impact by rehabilitating the 18-mile Manowa-to-Sandaru Road that connects Penguia and the surrounding chiefdoms to greater Sierra Leone – just 18 miles of road. The geopolitical challenges facing the U.S. manifest, too, in Eastern Sierra Leone and manifested there during the war. The citizens there suffered through that conflict, and now, inadequate infrastructure dangerously undermines their post-conflict recovery. In an ever-shrinking world, their continued isolation is healthy for no one. Bad actors will step in when good ones will not. Answer the call to rebuild the Manowa-to-Sandaru Road — the people of Penguia and their neighbors will do the rest.